The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-08-17
ALEXANDRIA,.
A Full Description Of the Town.
What it Has and What it
Expects. Its Many
Advantages.
What is Alexandria 2

ish seat of the Parish of Rapides,
State of Louisiana; it contains about
$500 Inhabitants, and is one of the
oldest Towns in the State.
Where is Alexandra situated?
1t is situated on the West bank OF
Red river Uhe right descending BANK
about one hundred and fifty miles
above its mouth, and Immediately be-
low the Falls; it is the head of navi-
CATION during low water. Directly
opposite Alexandria is the Town Of
Pineyille, new steam ferry constant
ly plying between the two Town. At
Alexandria, Bayou Rapides falls into
Red river.
Alexandria is the center of the up
per corner of the large body Of allu-
vial lands which, following the banks
of the Red, Mississippi and Atchafa-
laya rivers, as we'll as their connecting
bayoas, terminate at the Gulf.
Pineville opposite, is on hills abut-
ting directly on the river, and which
are the last spur of the vast chain of
mountains and hills, which descend in
regular terraces from Missouri and
Arkansas. 1t follows, therefore, that
all railroads on the North of Red
river, intending to cross it on their
way to the Gulf from Sabine river to
New Orleans, must make Pinevlle
their objective point, and cross at
Alexandra. For taking the longi-
tude of Alexandria, it is the most d.
rect and the nearest line from st.
| Louis via Little Rock.
What are the facilities for transpor-
tation?
l. The river, which has line OF
regular boats flom New Orleans, and
a St. Louis trading boat about every
sixty days.
3. The terminus of branch of the
Huntington system, known as the
Morgan Railroad" which runs a daily
train to and from New Orleans, and
connects at Lafayette with the main
trunk line going to Houston, Texas,
and from thence to all the points
reached by that vast system.
| 3. The Texas and Pacific, which
passes through ON its way to Marshall,
and from thence to St. Louis, Western
Texas and California.
And to be built, as follows:
In the way of projected railways,
some of which are now in actual
course Of construction, while others are
assured, is the Louisiana North and
South Railroad, from Magnolia, Ark,
via Homer, La, to Alexandria. This
line has already been surveyed and is
in course of construction from Gibbs
land, a point on the Vicksburg,
Shreveport and Texas Railway, north
ward The distance is only a hun
dred miles from Alexandria, and when
completed will, through its connections
make the road the short line via Alex.
andria between New Orleans, Fort
Scott and Kansas City. This road
has already secured a charter to bridge
Red river at Alexandria, to be com
pleted by April, 1880.
The Louisiana and Arkansas Rail
road comes next in order, from Brink
ley, Ark, via Delhi and Harrisonburs
to Alexandria, the terminal point. IL
aid the construction of this railway {
five mill tax for ten years has already
been voted in Alexandria, Pineville
and West Carroll. The route of THU
road will extend along the Bayou Ma
con Ridge, a natural roadbed not sub
ject to overflow, for nearly seventy
five miles, bringing it almost to Har
, risonburg, where it crosses the Ouach
tia river and thence entering the Ion!
leaf pine section, about eighty mile
from Alexandria, continues throug
the virgin forests to this city. In con
nection with this the syndicate has
! proposition from the Tensas levee dis
q trict to build dams across the heaC
t waters of the numerous small bayou
g heading up in West Carroll Paris
y aud Chico County, Ark thus reclaim
ing all the lands subject to overflo
b in the Tonsas district, amounting
e nearly a million acres in Morehous
!. Ouachita Richland and Caldwell Pa
ishes. The survey of this road hi
IS already started from Alexandria, an
l. construction will at once follow. III
q distance from Brinkley to Alexandr
;, is $50 miles, while by this route, I